May Day has been repressed, banned and bloodied; it has been co-opted, appropriated as a symbolic ornament for dictators and authoritarian regimes at war with the labour movement, or turned into a harmless bank holiday. Despite this, labour celebrates May Day with confidence, for we know that society rests on our energy, our eyes, hands, brains and backs. ...  Preberi več

With over 168,000 people dying every year from work-related accidents and diseases, and over 3 million reported accidents at work (those resulting in at least four days’ absence from work), health and safety at work is a very serious issue for everyone.

One of EFFAT’s core activity is to ensure health and safety standards in its sectors: ...  Preberi več

The new agreement provides for, among other measures: a SEK 1,650 (ca. EUR 172) monthly increase for full-time workers over a 3-year period; a 6.5% increase for overtime; a significant increase for the lowest-paid which meets or exceeds the increases for low-wage workers established in other sectoral agreements, one of the key negotiating demands; and the establishing of a joint working group with the employers to review housekeepers’ workloads. ...  Preberi več

HRF called the strike following the employers’ refusal to increase the wages of the lowest-paid workers in line with the increases won for other sectors in this year’s national sectoral negotiations. The employers have also refused demands for increased job security.

The employers’ organization Visita has instructed its members to distribute questionnaires regarding union membership to all employees in the hotels that have been selected for strike action.
The Secretariat is therefore requesting affiliates in the HRCT sector to send messages in support of the union’s demands to the employers’ association VISITA. Please find attached a sample letter in English and a translation. Kindly inform the secretariat at iuf@iuf.org of any message you might send, and please copy as well to the HRF at au@hrf.net. ...  Preberi več

Prilikom posljednjeg sastanka EFFAT-ovog upravnog odbora, EFFAT je odlučio poslati snažnu poruku solidarnosti svim našim američkim kolegicama i kolegama koji stoje u prvim redovima protiv Trumpovog krajnje desničarskog populizma. EFFAT stoji uz bok sa cijelom američkom radnom klasom, bez obzira na njihovu rasu, spol, seksualnu orijentaciju ili migrantski status. ...  Preberi več

The Guidelines on Decent Work and Socially Responsible Tourism adopted during the Meeting of Experts organized by the ILO from 20th to 24th February, provide support to all “ILO constituents and other stakeholders engaged in the design and implementation of interventions on the promotion of decent work and full and productive employment in the tourism sector with a view to enhancing its sustainability” at international, national, regional, local and enterprise level. They are directed at governments, policy-makers, employers’ organizations and trade unions. ...  Preberi več

3F PSHR is demanding specific health and safety research into housekeepers’ working conditions in Denmark.

In Sweden HRF is demanding stricter rules on consultation with union representatives on the organization of housekeeping work, insisting that all changes be negotiated with shop stewards or local unions. ...  Preberi več

Corporate Europe has recovered from the crisis but while the top 1% reap almost all the economic gains, workers haven’t seen a pay rise in years.

To turn the tide, the European trade union movement has launched the campaign ‘It’s time for OUR Recovery – Europe needs a pay rise’.

Rather than costing jobs, wage rises across Europe would increase confidence and economic demand while creating more jobs. A pay rise for European workers is a matter of social justice. Today, wealth and wage inequality is on the rise and workers’ rights such as collective bargaining – the best way to get a pay rise – should be encouraged and promoted by all – not come under attack as in recent years. ...  Preberi več

NGG sharply criticized these attempts to break the strikes in  Germany. Following the actions of Polish trade unions and workers in front of Starbucks outlets in Warsaw and Poznan, the company AmRest, which operates Starbucks in Central Europe and in Germany, gave up attempts to recruit strike breakers amongst their Polish workers. ...  Preberi več